On Jan. 28, CMS released their first ever home health patient experience of care star ratings on Home Health Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/search.html). Known as Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) Survey star ratings, these measures evaluate patients’ experiences with home health agencies. Home Health Compare is the agency’s public information website that provides information on how well Medicare-certified agencies provide care to their patients.

The HHCAHPS Survey star ratings report patients’ experiences of care ranging from one star to five stars using data from patients (or the family or friends of patients) that have been treated by the agency. Five stars is the highest rating and reflects the best patient experience. There are over 11,000 agencies with data on Home Health Compare, and more than 6,000 of them now have patient care experience star ratings.

Previously, patients could select multiple agencies at a time on Home Health Compare to compare agency performance on individual HHCAHPS items, such as how often the home health team delivered care in a professional way. In addition, patients have also had access to summary Quality of Patient Care star ratings for each agency. These star ratings summarize home health agencies’ performance on nine quality measures that indicate how well they assist their patients in regaining or maintaining important functional abilities and how frequently they adhere to evidence-based processes of care.

Now, patients and their family members can go one step further: they can compare information on patients’ experiences of home health care at these agencies through the HHCAHPS Survey star ratings. Starting today, an individual is able to view the following five HHCAHPS Survey star ratings for each home health agency listed on the website:

“Having the HHCAHPS Survey star ratings on Home Health Compare helps patients and their families make more informed health care decisions and encourages home health agencies to strive for higher levels of quality and patient experience,” said CMS Deputy Administrator and Chief Medical Officer Patrick Conway, M.D., MSc. “We hope patients and their families find this information helpful and visit our other provider comparison websites.”

These results are from patients who received home health services between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Star ratings are only displayed for home health agencies that submit at least 40 completed home health patient surveys in the reporting period. To see SVH scores, visit:

“I want to thank all our clinicians and staff who made this possible. Their commitment to the hospital’s mission and compassionate care is amazing. Comparison ratings help patients compare among home health agencies. If there is one main theme in home care, it is We are here to help you learn how to take care of yourself,” said Eileen Tondreau, RN, BSN, director of Adventist Health/Home Care Services. “People come home after surgery or after having had a stroke or being diagnosed with diabetes or cancer, and they haven’t been in the hospital long enough to learn how to do all the new things they need to do to heal properly or to adapt to their new circumstances.”